“Hey, honey. How’re you feeling?”
“Good. Are Mom and Dad coming home?” His eyes wereclear this morning, and his voice sounded better.
“Not yet. It’ll probably just be your dad today. Your mom and Mia should be back tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
Tara knelt in front of the boy and gave him a hug. “We can call them after you eat something, okay?”
He nodded against her shoulder and then pushed gently away.
“If you go wash your face, I’ll make you pancakes.”
He turned his big bluepuppy-dog eyes her way and tucked his chin. “Waffles?”
Tara smiled. This kid. “Okay, waffles, but you have to do a good job.”
He nodded and ran toward the hallway and returned a few minutes later with his face scrubbed clean. “I’m hungry.”
“I’ll bet. Do you know where the waffle maker is?”
He nodded and opened the cupboard while she gathered ingredients.
Two hours later they were bothstuffed and happy. While Robbie was on the phone with his parents, Tara had returned the kitchen to its former pristine glory. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to keep house, she just got lazy living alone. If her mess didn’t bother her, what was the point in worrying about it when no one else was there to care?
Robbie held out the phone. “My mom wants to talk to you.”
Tara smiled and tookthe receiver. “How are you?”
“Worried. I can’t believe someone tried to break in last night.”
Mick hadn’t wanted to tell her, but he’d known Robbie wouldn’t be able to talk about anything else. Plus, Jenna would be pissed at Tara and Mick for keeping her in the dark.
“I know. It was scary, but we’re all fine. Your alarm system did its job.”
Jenna blew out a short breath. “I’ve felt sosafe there the last few years, but this makes me want to bump up our attempt to buy a house. We’re going to need more space anyway.”
A house might not be any more immune to burglary, but Tara kept her mouth shut. Jenna’s response was emotional, not logical. And it was none of Tara’s business anyway. “So, how are you feeling? I’m sure labor is exhausting.”
“It is, but so worth the result.”Jenna’s smile shone through in her words.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Yes. I can’t wait to share her with you. She’s going to steal your heart.”
“Too late.”
Jenna laughed. “No regrets, but I’m so tired. And glad it’s over. Nature has this way of making you forget what it’s like.”
“I hope to know firsthand someday.” Dammit. She’d promised she wouldn’t do that. Jenna did not need to feel guiltyfor having what Tara wanted.
“You will. I’m sure of it. I understand why you’ve been avoiding men the last few years, but don’t completely cut yourself off from the possibilities.”
“I won’t.”
Tara wanted to tell her about Jeff, but what was the point? He was a transient figure in her life, no matter how she felt about him. And Jenna was right. Tara had taken her interactions with men tothe complete opposite extreme. No wonder she’d fallen in love with the first great guy she let herself get close to.
She just had to figure out how to make that kind of connection with men who were available for the potential of something lasting.
